Fuse for projectiles



N. GREENWELL FUSE FOR PROJECTILES Filed Apri1 6, 1923 s Sheng-sheet 5Patented Aug. 18', 1.925. j. 1 UNITED .STATES 1,549,763 PATENT OFFICE,

NEVIL GREENWELL, OF ETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO BETHLEHEM STEELCOMPANY, A. CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

FUSE FOR PBOJECTILES.

Application vtiled April. 6,

pose of causing the explosion of the projectile a short time after' theprojectile has reached the target instead of immediately upon impact,the object being to cause the explosion to take place after theprojectile has penetrated the target and has entered 'a space where itsexplosion will effect maximum destruction. Prior fuses of this type havegenerally included delay pellets or trains which, in theory at least,begin to burn upon the impact of the projectile and are of such a naturethat the projectile charge is not ignited for a definite and invariableperiodof time' after such impact. Inasmuch as the time of delay is fixedor determined beforev the projectile is fired from the gun and, inasmuchas the target is generally at a distant point and of unknown thickness-or strength it is readily seen that it is practically impossible to sotime the projectile fuse that explosion will take place at the desiredpoint, that is, immediately behind the target pierced.

The objec't of the present invention is to provide a projectile fuserequiring no adjustment before firing and which will with certaintycause the explosion of the projectile to which it is attached,immediately in rear of a target whichvit penetrates, or deeply ywithinthe target itself in the case of an impenetrable target. No timingdevices of previously known type are 4employed butv the moving parts ofthe fuse are so designed and constructed that the fuse arms itself uponfiring followed by impact of the projectile and theA ring mechanism isreleased upon the cessation of the retardation caused by the impact. Itwill be seen that a fuse constructedto function in this manner will, inthe event that an impenetrable target is encountered, explode only whenthe projectile has come to rest within 1928. Serial No. 630,363.

the target, and in the event that a penetrable target is encountered,will explode lmmedlately after the projectile has passed the target andcontinued its free flight.

The fuse may be designed and constructed for attachment to either thenose or base of a projectile and the design and arrangement of itscomponent parts may be considerably modified Without departing from thespirit and scope of theinvention. In the accompanying drawings twomodifications are il-, lustrated and others will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal axial section through a projectile having theimproved fuse attached thereto, the moving parts of the fuse beingillustrated in the which they occupy before the projectile is fired froma gun;

Figure 2 is a similar section showing the parts 1n the positions whichthey occupy immediately after firing;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts upon impactlof the projectile;

Figure 4 is also an axial section in which the parts are illustrated inthe positions which they occupy at the instant when the fuse functionsto explode the projectile; l

Figure 5 is a section on -line '5 5 of Figure 1; f

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a section online 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an axial section through a fuse adapted to be secured to thebasel of a projectile;

Figure 10 is a section on Figure 1; and

Figure l1 is'a section on line 11-11 of Figure 4.

The body ofthe projectile is indicated at 10, the ogival nose portion at11, an adapter at 12 and the fuse head at 13. The fuse head is boredaxially and its inner wall is threaded at the rear end to receive thecor-' respondingly threaded forward portion of` the fuse body 14, whichcontains the booster charge 15. Clamped between annular muiine ioio of.tually facing shoulders of the fuse hea-d and voo ositions 55 viouslyreferred to.

to provide a flame passage and space for the seating of a primer 18. Adetonator holding block or shutter 19 is located in a chamber betweenthe rear face of the disk 16 and 5 the front face of the fuse body, thisshutter having a detonator 20 therein and being designed and constructedsubstantially as set forth in Patent No. 1,342,652, issued June 8, 1920to F, A. Sullivan and W. L.

Lukens.

The means for iring the primer is positioned in advance of the disk 16and within the axial recess or aperture in the fuse head, this recesshaving a central portion 22, a forward portion 23 of reduced diameterand a rear portion 24 of greater diameter, these several portions beingtruly cylindrical and coaxial.

In the rear portion, designated a chamber for the sake of convenience,is slidably 'held a ring-like member 25, which constitutes a portion ofan outer sleeve S having an annular forwardly facing interiorshoulder 26and a conical forwardly facing seating surface 27. The sleeve Scomprises in addition to the ring-like member 25 a forwardly extendingcylindrical portion 28 which terminates at 29 and has diametricallyopposed slots to receive theouter ends of 30 locking bolts B, thecylindrical outer surface of portion 28 fitting closely against theinner wall of the middle chamber 22 of the" aperture in the fuse head,but being freely slidable axially therein. Also slidably containedwithin the chamber 22 is an anticipator holder 30 which is a sleeve-likemember provided with a forwardly extending portion 30 fitting closelywithin the forward chamber 23 and provided with a recess or socket 31 toreceive the end lof an anticipator.

Slidably fitting against the inner walls of sleeve S and anticipatorholder 30 is a second sleeve O normally urged by a spring 32 toward thedisk 16 so that its rearwardly facing annular shoulder 33 is in contactwith the shoulder 26 of the outer sleeve S. The inner sleeve O is alsoaxially apertured and carries at its rear end for sliding movementrelatively thereto a firing hammer 35 hav- 00 the inclined surface 27 ofthe outer sleeve.

The inner ends of the bolts are tapered or beveled to entercorrespondingly shaped recesses in the firing hammer. 35. The hammer islocked against movement by these 05 members and may only move when thelocking bolts have been moved outwardly, a movement which is normallyopposed and prevented by the outer sleeve.

Bearing against the firing hammer and arranged coaxially therewith is acoiled lspring 40, the forward end of this spring being retained withina recess 41 in a plunger 42 slidably fitting within the sleeve O, theforward end of the plunger normally resting against the anticipatorholder 30. The coiled spring 32 is contained in the annular spacebetween the plunger and anticipator holder and normally tends to holdthe sleeve O, and hence the outer sleeve S, against the disk 16, aspreviously pointed out, and to hold the anticip-ator'holder at the limitof its movement toward the point of the projectile. A friction ring 44tightly engages the outer surface of the plunger and frictionallyopposes the entrance of the plunger into the sleeve O.

A three part locking ring 45 is positioned within an annular groove nearthe inner end of the plunger which ring is adapted to expand under theinfluence of centrifugal force to enter an annular groove 46 formed insleeve O after the projectile has been fired, as shown in Figure 3. Theplunger is thus locked in the sleeveO. A similar expanding ring 47 in agroove in the inner 1 sleeve O is adapted to expand under the influenceof centrifugal force, after the inner sleeve has moved forwardrelatively to the outer sleeve, as shown in Figure 3, and to abutagainst the shoulder 26 of the outer sleeve upon the rearward movementof the inner sleeve so as to prevent the complete re-entry of the innersleeve into the outer sleeve, as shown in Figure 4.

Before firing the parts occupy the positions in which they areillustrated in Figure 1,' there being a slight gap between the rear endof the anticipator holder and the forward end of the outer sleeve S.Upon acceleration of the projectile the anticipator holder will move tothe rear until its rear end strikes the forward rend of the outersleeve, and the plunger moves toward the firing hammer, as shown inFigure 2, the ring 45 expanding and locking the plunger in this positionwith the spring 40 compressed. Upon impact of the nose of the projectileupon a target the inner sleeve O moves forwardly due to its inertia,carrying the locking bolts B and the plunger 42, as shown in Figure 3,the locking ring 47 expanding as shown. The outer sleeve S also movesforwardly so that locking bolts B are not released, and this movementcontinues until the ring portion 25 thereof strikes the rearwardlyfacing annular shoulder which defines the forward end of chamber 24.Upon cessation of retardation of the projectile as a result of itsimpact, that is, when the projectile has either stopped sleeve O in itsforward in Figure 3) and the spring-32 immediatelyof the sprino' anejosentirely or has cleared the target the forces of inertia no longer actto hold the inner position (as shown acts todrive this sleeverearwardly. The locking rin v47 strikes the shoulder 26 of the outer seeve and both sleeves move to-y gether toward the disk 16. The outersleeve is displaced rearwardly relatively to theJ in ner sleeve andtherefore no longer obstructs the-outward movement of the ocking bolt Band these fly outwardly under the thrust 40, actingthrough `the camsurfaces of t e firing hammer, so that the firing hammer is released.and the firing pin f will strike the primer 18.

An anticipator may be used ,with the fuse to. cause detonation of theprojectile before This anticipator is is inserted through an a erture inthe point of the projectile normal y closed by plug 50.

The inner end of the antici ator seats in socket 31 of -the anticipatorolder. U on firing the firing spring 40 is compresse as before. Uponimpact the inner sleeve O moves forwardly but the anticipator holder isthrust rearwardly and prevents forward movement of the outer sleeve.Relative movement of the inner and outer sleeves enables the bolts B toliyaoutward as before, allowing theiiring spring'to drive the firinghammer against the primer. A very quick action is thereby produced.

A modified formof the invention is illustrated in Figure 9, which isparticularly adapted for use as abase detonating fuse. In this case thefiring hammer, inner sleeve, plunger, ring spring and primer are largelyformed as before and function in the same manner. Instead of a singleouter sleeve, however, there are two sleeves provided between the innersleeve and the fuse body, an intermediate sleeve 60 and an outer sleeve61. The intermediate sleeve is slotted at 62 to receive the projectingends 63 of the hammer locking bolts B and the outer sleeve 61 terminatesat 64, there being .a gap in advancel thereof into which these lockingbolts must project to allow the fuse to function. Upon firing the innersleeve moves rearwardly, the outer ends of bolts B sliding along theinner surface. of the outer sleeve and the intermediate sleeve remainingstationary.` At the limit of this rearward movement of the inner sleevethe locking ring 65l expands into the groove 66 thereby locking theplunger 67 to this sleeve with the firing spring 68 compressed. As soonas initial acceleration of the projectile has ceased the inner sleeve(with the plunger) is again moved forwardly by the spring 69. Uponimpact the intermediate and outer sleeves move forwardly together, theouter sleeve blocking outward movement of lockinterinediate sleeve u onits forward movement The intermedJ' i ward y through a greater distancethani the outer sleeve and relative movement vof the two sleeves permitsball/70 to esca e from the recess 71 in which it is normally held and totake. aposition to one sidev of the saine.. Upon cessation ofretardation spring 69 drives intermediate sleeve 60 rearwardly and,through ball 70, also moves. sleeve 61. While sleeve 61 is returned toits original or extreme left hand position sleeve 60 is unable to'reachits original position due to interposed ball 70.l As a result of theforward and rearward movement 'of the parts therefore relative movementof the sleeves 60 and '61 occurs with the result that' the outer ends oflocking bolts B are freed -so that the firing hammer may be immediatelyprojected' forwardly.

The principle of the invention is broad in scope and may be carried outin fuses of va' rious other types and constructions, as willl beapparent to one skilled in the art. Certain parts of the fuse may bereversed, for instance the ositions of the firing pin and primer may ereversed if thoughty desirable, without departing in any way from thespirit of the invention. the appended claims the irin pin and primer aredesignated firing e ements.

Havingthus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination with a fuse body, ofrelatively movable firing elements and a firing spring, means forcompressing the .firing spring upon initial acceleration of theprojectile and retaining it in a compressed` state during flight, andmeans to normally prevent 'liring movement of said firing elementsreleased upon cessation of retardation of the projectile.

2. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, relatively movable firingelements, 'a firing spring, locking means normallyv preventing tiringmovement of said firing elements, an inertia controlled device forcompressing the firing spring upon initial acceleration, and inertia andspring controlled devices' for releasing the locking means after impactand after retardation has ceased.

3. In a fuse for projectiles in combination, relatively movable firingelements, locking means normally preventing ring movement of saidelements, a liring spring, a second spring, an axially movable plungerfor compressing the ring spring upon acceleration of the projectile infiring and control means for said locking means adapt In certain of Vingbolts B' (what yare disengaged by the iatesleeve moves forizo ed tocompress said second spring upon inijectile.

5. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, relatively movable firingelements,

'locking means normally preventing firing movement of said elements, afiring spring, a second spring, an axially movable plunger forcompressing the firing spring upon acceleration of the projectile infiring, and control means for said locking means which includes twoaxially movable sleevesadapted to move relatively upon impact and one ofsaid sleeves being arranged to compress said second spring upon impactand to be projected rearwardly thereby upon the ces sation ofretardation of the projectile.

6. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, firing elements, firingTbeans to cause one of said elements to ignite the fuse and adapted tobe energized on the discharge of 'the projectile from a gun, lockingmeans adapted to maintain said firing means inactive during the flightof the projectile, and control means cooperating with sai locking means,adapted to be energized upon impact of the projectile upon a target andto function upon cessation of retardation due to impact to render saidlocking means ineffective. V

7. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, firing elements, firingmeans to cause one of said elements to ignite the fuse and adapted to beenergized on the discharge of the projectile from a gun, locking meansadapted to maintain said firing means in* active during the flight ofthe projectile, and control means cooperating with said locking meansincluding a sprmg adapted to store up energy upon impact of theprojcctile upon a target and to function upon cessation of retardationof the projectile due to impact to render said locking meansineffective.

8. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, firing elements, firingmeans to cause one of said elements to ignite the fuse and adapted to beenergized on the discharge of the projectile from a gun, locking meansadapted to maintain said firing means inactive during the flight of theprojectile, and control means cooperating with said locking meansincluding a sprin adapted to be compressed upon impact o the projectileu'pon a target and to expand upon cessation of retardation of theprojectile due to impact and to locking means ineffective.

9. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, firing elements, firingmeans to cause one of said elements to ignite the fuse and adapted to beenergized on the discharge of the projectile from a n, locking meansadapted to maintain said firing means inactive during the flight of theprojectile, and control means cooperating with said locking meansincluding a member secured to the fuse for limited movement upon im actand a spring positioned to be compresse by said member upon impact ofthe projectile upon a target and cause a return movement to said memberupon cessation of retardation due to impact, whereby said locking meansis rendered ineffective.

10. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, firing elements, tiringmeans to cause one of said elements to ignite the fuse and function torender said` adapted to be energized on the discharge of the projectilefrom a gun, locking means adapted to maintain said firing means inactiveduring the flight of the projectile, and control means cooperating withsaid locking means including a member slidably mounted in the fuse forlimited axial movement upon impact of the projectile upon a target and acoil spring arranged axially of the fuse and in advance of said memberso asto be compressed upon impact by the forward movementof said memberand to expand upon d cessation of retardation due to impact and movesaid member rearwardlv to render said locking means ineffective. l

11. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, a detonator, a firingelement for the detonator adapted to be armed when the projectile isdischarged from a gun, locking means to maintain the firin element inits armed position during the flight of the projectile, and meanscooperating with said locking means adapted to be energized upon impactof the projectile with a target and to function at the cessation ofretardation due to impact to render said locking means ineffective.

12. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, two firing elements,means to propel one of said elements toward the other to eiect firing ofthe fuse, means to energize said propelling means andl adapted tofunction upon discharge of the projectile from a gun, means to lock saidelement against movement, and means for releasing said locking meansoperable after impact and when retardation ofthe projectile and fusehave ceased. l

13. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, two firing elements,means to propel one of taid elements toward the other to effect firingof the fuse, means to energize said propelling means and adapted tofunction` upon discharge of the projectile from a gun, means to locksaid element against movement',I and means for releasing .said lockingmeans partially upon impact and completely when vretardation of theprojectile has ceased.

14. In a fuse for projectiles, in combination, relatively movable firingelements, means eli'ective upon the acceleration of the projectile forstoring up energy for propelling one of said elements towards the otherto effect firing of the fuse, locking means to normally prevent relativemovement and contact of said firing elements, and control means for saidlocking means normally holding said locking means in locking positionbut adapted to release same upon cessation of retardation of theprojectile after impact.

15. A fuse for projectiles including in combination relatively movabletiring elements, means effective upon the acceleration of the projectilefor storing up energy for propelling one of said elements towards theother to eiect firing of the fuse, locking means to normally preventrelative movement andcontact of said firing elements, a pair of axiallyand relatively movable members, a spring opposing the movement of saidmembers, and a fixed stop to limit the movement of one of said members,whereby upon impact of the projectile the members :ire caused to moveforward' and relative to each other so that upon the return movement ofsaid member the release of the locking means is eifected.

116. A fuse for projectiles including in combination relatively movablefiring elements, tiring means energized upon shock of discharge of theprojectile from a gun for .causing relativemovement of said elements andiiring of the fuse, locking means for preventing firing movement of thefiring .elements, and control means for th'e locking means `comprisingtwo members adapted to be relatively displaced upon impact of theprojectile with a target and a spring normally preventing relativedisplacement of said members.

17. A fuse for, projectiles including in combination, a primer, a firinghammer, a 'sleeve in which the iiring hammer is slidably retained, amotor for propelling said firing hammer mounted in said sleeve andadapted to be energized upon shock of discharge of the projectile from agun, locking bolts eX- tending through the sleeve and engaging thefiring hammer, a second sleeve without the first mentioned sleeve andnormally engaging said locking bolts to prevent outward movement thereofand release of the locking bolts, relative movement of said sleevesresulting in release of the locking bolts, and a ring normally opposingmovement of said s eeves, the action of which is overcome by the inertiaof said sleeves upon im act of the projectile so that the locking bo tswill be released.

18. ln a fuse'for rojectiles, the combina-l tion with a fuse bo y, ofrelatively movable Afiring elements and a propelling medium to thesleeve and engaging the firing animer, a

second sleeve without the lirst mentioned sleeve and normally engagingsaid lockin bolts to prevent -outward movement thereo and release of thelocking bolts, a member slidably mounted in the first sleeve andnormally disconnected therefrom but adapted to be interlocked during theHight of the projectile, a coil spring lnterposed betweensaid member andthe tiring hammer and normally opposing the interlocking of the memberand the sleeve and also normally opposing the relative movement of saidAsleeves which relative movement resulting in release of the lockingbol-ts, the action of which is overcome by the inertia of one of theafore-l mentioned parts due to the initial acceleration of theprojectile so that the interlocking ofthe sleeve and the member iseffected and the tiring hammer loaded, and a second spring cooperatingwith the rst spring to oppose the relative movement of the sleeves, theaction of which is overcome by the inertia of said sleeves upon impactof the profuse vfor projectiles including in jectile so that the lockingybolts will be released.

20. In a fuse of the class described, the

combination with a firing means adapted to be ener zed upon the initialacceleration of 'ment of the member, locking means maintaining saidiring'means inactive during the v flight of the projectile, meanscontrolling 'the projectile to which itl is secured, of locksaid lockingmeans rendered ine'ective at the cessation of retardation due to impact,whereby the firing means is released to bring about the explosion, andmeans for establishing explosive relation between the booster charge andthe detonator during the flight of the projectile.

22. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of an exploding element,an axially movable sleeve member, a relatively movab e firing hammertherein, locking means positioned in the l`sleeve member, control meanscooperating therewith for preventing firing engagement of the explodingelement .and the firing hammer prior to a predetermined relativemovement of the control means and Said sleeve member, and firing meansadapted to be energized during the initial acceler ation of theprojectile for thereafter bringing about said engagement.

23. A fuse for projectiles, including a firing element having a hammer,an inertia member, a firing spring interposed between the parts andadapted to be compressed by inertia due to the initial acceleration ofthe projectile, and means to lock said spring in its compressed state tobe released upon cessation of retardation due to impact of theprojectile with an obstacle.

24. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a firing element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the firing element, a firing springadapted to resist the movement of said member, a friction devicecooperating with said spring adapted to augment the resisting force ofsaid spring during the initial movement of said inertia member, andmeans to lock said firing element in its armed condition to be releasedupon cessation of retardation due to impact of the projectile with anobstacle.

25. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a firing element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the ring element,

tion to be released upon cessation of retardation due to impact of aprojectile with an obstacle.

26. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a firing element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the firing element, a relatively movablespring abutment member, a iiring spring interposed between said members,a friction device to oppose the initial movement of the members, andmeans to lock said firing element in its armed condition to be releasedupon cessation of retardation due to impact of a projectile with anobstacle.

27. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a tiring element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the ring element, a relatively movablespring abutment member normally disconnected from the inertia member, afiring sprin interposed between said members, and loc 'ing means adaptedto function and interlock said members after a predetermined relativemovement thereof.

28. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a ring element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the tiring element, a relatively movablespring abutment member normally disconnected from the inertia member, airing sprin interposed between said members, and loc ing means adaptedto function and interlock said members after a predetermined relativemovement thereof, and friction means opposing said movement.

29. A fuse for projectiles, the combination with a ring element, of aninertia member adapted to arm the firing element, a relatively movablespring abutment member normally disconnected from the inertia member, afiring spring interposed between said members and adapted to resist themovement of the inertia member, means augmenting said spring to resistthe initial movement of said inertia member, and locking means adaptedto function and interlock a firing spring adapted to resist themovemesaid membersafter a predetermined relative ment of said member, afriction ring mounted on said member adapted to cooperate witli saidspring in resisting the movement of the member, and means to lock saidfiring element in its armed condimovement thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

NEVIL GREENWELL.

